Spotlight on Southland Sport: Friday Edition
Plenty of sport to delve into in this week's Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition. Enjoy the read.
Welcome to The Southland Tribune’s Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition offering. We’ll be back again on Sunday with our “Sunday Special”.
Hunter Fahey: The promising prop who's carved his own rugby path
“There are probably a lot of boys out there that don’t go to the big schools who probably think they have to, it’s good to show that you don’t always have to if you work hard enough.” (READ MORE HERE).
Round 4: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….
Jason Rutledge was the victor in week three of our Super Rugby Pacific Picks Panel, aided by Matt Saunders’ blind loyalty to the Highlanders.
Rutledge picked four of six winners correctly with three of the margins also correct.
Saunders picked three winners and had all of those margins correct, Scott Eade also picked three winners but just two correct margins.
Eade does still lead the overall standings. This week the trio all picked the same six winners. Just the margins will separate them this weekend.
Overall picks standings: Scott Eade (71 points), Jason Rutledge (68), Matt Saunders (51).
Gregory commits again to the Stags….
Highlanders’ midfielder Scott Gregory will be back in maroon during the 2023 NPC season.
Gregory joined Southland last year after previoulsy playing for his home province Northland at NPC level.
Rugby Southland director of rugby Matt Saunders praised Gregory’s skills and leadership on the field.
“He’s a super rugby quality player in the prime of his career. We’re looking to him to be one of the leaders of our backline, he adds a real physical presence in the midfield."
Semifinal time: Super Rugby Aupiki with Mere Baker
Former pro rugby player and coach turned commentator Mere Baker shares her take on round three of the Super Rugby Aupiki women’s competition, as well as her picks for Saturday’s semifinal. (READ MORE HERE).
10th place finish for Sexton….
Southland cyclist Tom Sexton had his first Nations Cup crack at the men’s omnium competition, finishing in a competitive 10th place.
He was distanced in the opening scratch race but timed his run to perfection late in the tempo race, claiming the key sprints to win. He rode prominently in the elimination, where the last rider goes out on every second lap, but found himself blocked on the inside of the track to finish 13th.
Sexton managed to make the group that put a lap on the field in the deciding points race, finishing third in the 160-lap finale to elevate into the top-10 overall to earn useful ranking points.
Two Canterbury trips loom in trainer's quest for Riverton start
With no official trials in Southland and Otago, trainer Stephen Blair-Edie will make two trips to Canterbury with The Tui Toiler in the hope of gaining a clearance to race him at Riverton on Easter Monday, April 10. (READ MORE HERE).
100 up for Wyndham Harness Racing Club….
The Wyndham Harness Racing Club will celebrate its centennial with a race meeting at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham on Saturday (18 March).
The club has a wonderful history since being formed on Friday May 23, 1923. Subsequently, the first Trotting Club meeting, a non-totalisator event was held at the racecourse on Wednesday November 7, 1923.
Another meeting followed in 1924 before the club’s inaugural tote meeting took place on Wednesday March 18, 1925.
First Glance won the first Wyndham Trotting Cup in 1925 and despite the club’s 100-year history this year’s running of the Cup will be the 90th edition of the race after it was not held between 1967-1977.
The all weather track was opened with a day of trials and other entertainment on Saturday 21 February 1976 before the first race meeting took place on it on 6 March 1976. It was at that time the name, Young Quinn Raceway, was adopted in tribute to one of Southland’ best pacers.
In the 1988/89 season the club’s name was changed to the Wyndham Harness Racing Club and this weekend the club marks 100 years.
Features on the day include the MLT Centennial Cup plus heats of the Southern Belle Series, Oaks and Supremacy.
Racing is due to commence at 12 noon and admission will be free.
Muscle Cars to complement Super Trucks at Teretonga
One of the biggest fields of trucks for many years will line up at Teretonga Park this weekend while the Mainland Muscle Cars also come south with an impressive grid. (READ MORE HERE).
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(Out & About)
Highlanders v Force - Sunday 3.35pm - Rugby Park Invercargill
Southland rugby fans get their one and only just chance to watch a Super Rugby Pacific game in their own backyard on Sunday.
The Highlanders will host the Western Force at Rugby Park in Invercargill at 3.35pm.
It’s the first Super Rugby game to be played at Rugby Park since 2019 and you’ve got the SBS Bank for it.
The SBS Bank is now the Highlanders’ front-of-jersey sponsor and has played a key role in getting the game to Invercargill.
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark said: “There are some financial imperatives for us when we play away from Forsyth Barr Stadium, and I am delighted SBS were able to assist in making this game possible.”
(On The Couch)
Highlanders U20s v Chiefs U20s - Sunday 4.45pm - Sky Sport
If you are heading along to Rugby Park on Sunday to watch the Highlanders take on the Force make sure you hit record on the TV for the Highlanders-Chiefs U20s game in Taupo.
The Highlanders team features plenty of Southland connections, including prop Hunter Fahey who we featured above in today’s Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition.
In case you missed it….
Club rugby is back: The race for the 2023 Southland premier club rugby title begins on Saturday. Seven clubs will scrap it out for the prized Galbraith Shield. Logan Savory takes a look at how those teams shape up. [READ MORE HERE].
Get in touch….
If you have something you think is worth featuring in either our Friday or Sunday Spotlight on Sport editions, please get in touch. NOTE: Please provide as much detail as possible to help us collate everything at this end. Email logan@southlandtribune.com